Star Student: Laura Graham

This Bay Area teen has a closet unlike any other.

Since her freshman year at Bishop O’Dowd, Laura Graham has collected nearly 25,000 garments for over 8,000 teens in need through her organization, 1Closet.

1Closet collects clothes through high school drives and distributes the garments to teenagers in need via Alameda and Contra Costa counties non-profits. Laura’s philanthropy has earned her numerous awards and most recently, an article in the latest issue of Cosmopolitan Magazine.

As a newly graduated senior, Laura’s getting ready to move on to even bigger things—college! But where does that leave 1Closet?

The future University of Arizona Wildcat is leaving 1Closet in good hands, having found a pair of Alamo sisters who are going to take on the busy organization. Laura interviewed several students before choosing Riley and Carly Glasson.

“I believed it would be best to pass 1Closet on to a family or group who had the ability to continue my charity for more than a year,” Laura says. “Riley has been shadowing me, and her sister will shadow her, so the transition will be seamless.”

No strangers to philanthropy, Riley and Carly were happy to take over 1Closet. A junior at San Ramon Valley High School, Riley says she and her sister Carly, a seventh grader at Charlotte Wood Middle School, have been involved in the National Charity League (NCL) for some time.

“We’re really involved in charity, so we thought [managing 1Closet] would be something that worked really well for us,” Riley says. “And even though I only have one more year of high school, I’ve got [Carly] and another little sister that can continue [the organization].”

The Glassons don’t plan on making major changes to the foundation of 1Closet, however, they hope to expand the charity, gather a larger inventory of clothing, and find a permanent drop off location for donated items. Despite Laura’s departure, Carly says that she and Riley plan on staying in touch.

Says Laura, “While I won't have a direct hand in 1Closet, I hope to be a helpful resource for Riley and Carly. I plan on following what happens and changes with 1Closet as it enters a new chapter.